PK (female all black kitty!) was adopted by a friend of mine as a kitten. She is just over a year old...spayed, UTD on shots etc. Healthwise all appears normal. Long story short after my friend got PK he realise a kitty wasnt for him. He is visually impaired and was finding it a real challenge to have a kitty that climbed all over the counters etc. He had her for about 7 months then we found a home for her with another friend of mine.

Now the new home is a single male who does not really have alot of people around and most certainly a different home than her first home. Her first home there were always lots of people around and she also lived with a dog and they were best friends.

Her new owner absolutely adores her and fed her what I suggested rather than just kibble and he truly loves her. They certainly are a perfect match for each other. Both keep each other company!

I have been going over for the past couple of months every couple of days or when needed to feed her. So she has known me since she was a kitten because I used to clip her nails before in her first home. Now she is scared of me! she runs and hides under the bed and she will not let me pet her! she hisses and swats and me and even bit me a couple of times...never broke skin but just to tell me enough I guess!

I feel horrible that she is afraid of me! Any suggestions...bribing her with treats didnt work and toys no! today I made it quiet and she thought I left and came out from under the bed to just sit there and stare at me from a distance.

I personally thnk it is because she is not socialised? sounds funny but he rarely has people over and she is not used to anyone but him now? we have talked about him getting another kitty but my fear is that she would not be able to tolerate it and then what? 2 cats that dont get along?

He travels sometimes and is even willing to take her with him! he just loves her! he emailed me a few times already to see how she was and he only left on Monday and will be back on Friday!

I am stumped? how do I make her like me! I honestly have never had a cat or dog that didnt like me?????

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown

I have always found that with cats it is better to ignore them and let them approach you. Someone gave some great advice on here a while ago (Jim?) to just take a book and sit on the floor and read out loud. If the cat has a favourite treat (my cats love chicken or bits of beef - deli stuff works) you could also set a path towards you with some tasty stuff.

I personally think another cat would be a great idea and could easily help to build her confidence. I would think it would be fairly obvious pretty quick if things are really not gonna work out and at least then you have also tried to give another cat a home.

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"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

If she is just over a year old and if introductions were done properly; different rooms, scent exchange, visual w/no touching, etc; then another kitten/cat would be a wonderful idea. They would be company for when he is away.
Is the cat undersocialized? Yep. Same as mine. We live a very quiet life. Don't get much company. So when we do the cats tend to run and hide. Well, most of them. TT is out there like a dirty shirt. He's Mr. Personality, into everything. Point is, eventually they come out. We don't push it. When they are ready they come to see who's here.
If you have the time when you are there to sit quietly and wait or even just to go around doing whatever, totally ignoring her, she will eventually come out. Maybe walk around dragging a string behind you, tied to your belt loop or something. She may come out to try to catch it. Just remember to untie it before you leave or you may get some funny looks!

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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me.

We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Hi
I have also mentioned reading books to cats or talking to them as u work around the house. I have always done that to my animals, but I found when we got Mirabelle last September it really helped her get use to me.

Maybe the cat thinks that u are going to take her away from owner #2 and bring her to a new owner? I don't know if u were the one that took her away from the visually impaired person or not. But maybe she is afraid of that happening again.

Debbie

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~Friendship is like a bank account. You can't continue to draw on it without making deposits~

I'm no expert, but my situation is similar... with the exception of two cats instead of one.

My place went from 3-4 visitors per week to 1-2 per month. Happened when I got the cats... my place was avoided like the plague. So now only close friends and cat lovers drop by. In some ways I prefer that, as I can mess up their places instead of the other way around! But instead of the cats being antisocial, they both seem to enjoy the company of strangers. Sometimes Kyuubi is a little shy, but he'll cozy up to whoever has the treats! Azrael will jump on you expecting you to pet him.

Even though this is just one case, I think there is a definite correlation between multiple cats and being more social… or maybe you smell like the vet?

When I have company, on the rare occasion, the only ones sticking around are Vlad, Oksana and Kiska. Maks and Czari will always run upstairs. Now and then if whoever is over stays long enough, Maks will come down, and Czari will sit at the top of the stairs.

I think what the others said about ignoring her and letting her come out when she feels comfortable is the best suggestion.

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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

Oh man ! I went again today and she wouldnt even come out from her hiding spot! :sad: This has never happened before! when I went many other times she would at least not hide from me! now she does??? She wasnt overly affectionate the other times but would come up to me and sniff and stuff...

I am going to go over to his house again next week and sspend some time with him there too! maybe she will see me with him and accept it more? I dont know. I dont always have time to sit and read to her thats part of the problem.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown

That sounds very strange. The cat has known you for longer than her owner and was previously friendly, there hasn't been a significant break in your association with her and all of a sudden she is afraid of you? I can't help wondering if her owner has someone else coming to the house who is mean to her and making her fear all visitors.

All the advice you've been given I second and use myself but why is this cat afraid of you now when she was not before? Maybe you should ask your friend if other people might be tormenting her? I can see why any cat might be fearful of new people but this one knows you.

Longblades her owner is a single guy, super nice, no family in town and really not alot of friends..He is from another city and new here! she came from a pretty busy home with many visitors and now no one really. Its weird though because she doesnt like to be pet! He will be taking her in soon for her annual check up and I suspect the vet is going to have difficulty touching her and stuff! (oh and she doesnt behave this way for him at all and can be pet etc etc)

I dont even try to pick her up since she moved to her new home cause I did that once and she hissed at me and kind of boxed me between the ears! I just shrugged it off then because I suspected it was cause she hadnt seen me in awhile and maybe smelled my cats?? I dont know but I will persevere (sp?) and with her behaving this way it makes me think adding another cat could potentially end up bad?? it would really bother my friend if he took in another cat and it didnt work out! he is a big softy! He is so funny! the very first time he went away and left her he hid treats all over the house for her to find! I asked him why and he said she had to have something to do while he was gone! he even contsructed a net with bird seed in it close to the window so she could bird watch!

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown

Winston, when Czarina was outside, she would spend her day following Miguel around. She was like his shadow. Ever since I've had her inside, the few times Miguel has stopped by to visit with her, she's run and hidden from him. I don't know if it's because she relates him to being outside and she might think he's there to take her or what, but I remember thinking it odd that she would hide from him. Maybe it's just the whole seeing a certain person daily that makes them feel comfortable. Then seeing a stranger messes with their comfort level.

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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

Cats that show signs of being unsocialized usually start at the kitten stage. If the cat has been around people the majoriy of their life, they are usually social, no matter who walks their the door. Mybe not as social with strangers, but can still be in the same room or around.

If a social cat is showing sudden signs of being unsocialized, like bring fearful, hissing, spitting I would be looking more into it. Why all of a sudden is this cat acting like this. The cat could be ill, abuse, etc.

So he was home for a couple days on the weekend and she was just fine! as always with him? We have talked quite a bit about this and we are just not sure about it? She seems quite content when he is home but when I come around she always hides now?

Last night I took some fresh roasted chicken pieces with me in case I had to bribe her! She was at the door and hung out for a few minutes while I changed the litter box and got her food set up. When I was all done that she had disappeared! I went to look under the bed and sure enough she was under it? So I tried for about 1/2 hour to bribe her with chicken pieces and she was not the slightest bit interested. :sad:

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown

As TQ had stated earlier, it is possible that she sees you as a threat. You were the one who took her from her first home. She may see you as wanting to take her away from her new home where she is quite obviously happy.
When he was home did you go over and spend time with them? If so was she ok with that? If that is the case I would think she is thinking that you are there to take her away. Not to look after her.

__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me.

We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD!

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown

So he was home for a couple days on the weekend and she was just fine! as always with him? We have talked quite a bit about this and we are just not sure about it? She seems quite content when he is home but when I come around she always hides now?

Last night I took some fresh roasted chicken pieces with me in case I had to bribe her! She was at the door and hung out for a few minutes while I changed the litter box and got her food set up. When I was all done that she had disappeared! I went to look under the bed and sure enough she was under it? So I tried for about 1/2 hour to bribe her with chicken pieces and she was not the slightest bit interested. :sad:

That sounds like she is starting to come around a bit
How long has she been in the new home and how often do you visit? Maybe she's not a food motivated kitty, have you tried a toy on a string? I would just keep doing what you are doing, and dont try to pick her up or pet her until she gets more comfortable, will sniff your hands, etc. or you could set things back.

She will sniff my hand and sit there and stare at me but if I touch her she kind of squeaks and then moves away! the odd time she will hiss and stand on her back legs and give me a few boxes with her paws!

(what drives me crazy is I used to be able to pick her up and hold her in my arms like a baby and clip her little nails! once she moved everything changed?

We have discussed the option of him getting another kitty but I am so worried she wont accept another kitty? maybe thats the problem? maybe another kitty will bring her out of her out of this funk?

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
-Unknown